Textile strand treating apparatus and method



Oct. 23, 1962 R. c. WILKIE ETAL 3,069,058

TEXTILE STRAND TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 12, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 1 3 \dflz 7 T PS Mi /4 I i I 1962 R. c. WILKIE ET AL I 3,

TEXTILE STRAND TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 12, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 2 TEXTILE STRAND TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD Oct. 23,1962 R. c. WlLKlE ET AL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 12, 1959 W m w W1962 R. c. WILKIE ET AL 3,060,058

TEXTILE STRAND TREATING APPARATUS AND METHOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June12, 1959 United States Patent ice 3,06G,i58 TEXTILE ST TREATINGAPPARATUS AND METHGD Robert C. Wilkie, Millis, and William I. Walter,Need= ham, Mass, assignors to Ludlow Corporation, a corporation ofMassachusetts Filed June 12, 1959, Ser. No. 819,934 21 Claims. (Q1.117-111) The present invention relates to a process and apparatus forthe treatment of material in strand form, as to apply a coating materialthereto or to smooth the surface thereof. The invention has particularutility in connection with textile strands and therefore will be furtherdescribed by reference to this application.

An object of the invention is to provide an efficient process andapparatus for the surface treatment at high speed and low cost oftextile strands, by which we mean to include all types of continuoulength textile materials, e.g., yarns and threads.

A further object of the invention is to provide a process and apparatusfor superficially coating textile strands.

A further object is to provide an inexpensive process and apparatus forlaying the surface fuzz of textile strands.

Another object is to provide a process and apparatus for coating textilestrands whereby the amount of material applied may be very accuratelycontrolled.

Another object is to provide a process and apparatus for coating textilestrands which will effectively handle strands of marked non-uniformityof diameter and cross sectional shape along their length.

-Another object is to provide a process and apparatus which willeffectively apply a coating material to textile strands which releaselarge amounts of lint or fly, such as jute yarns.

Another object is to provide a process and apparatus of the characterdescribed wherein the amount of material applied to the strand per unitlength may, if desired, be kept very low.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of presently preferred practicesand embodiments thereof in which reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, partly in elevation taken on line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 55 of FIG. 3, showing thedriving means;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 6--6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a detail view partly in section on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a ring forming a part of the apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on line 9 9 of FIG. 1, partly in elevation,showing the relationship of the liquid coating material supply to theremainder of the apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, on line 10-10of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an elevation, partly broken away, of a modification;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation, partly in section on line 12l2 of FIG. 11;and

FIG. 13 is an elevation of a further modification, partly broken awayand somewhat schematic.

In accordance with the invention we surface treat a textile strand bymoving the strand in the direction of 3,960,058 Patented Get. 23, 1962its length through, and in contact with individual members of, a mass ofrounded bodies while continuously moving the bodies in a stream orstreams with respect to the strand. Preferably the bodies are moved in astream so that they successively present their surfaces to the strandmoving through the stream. Desirably the mass of bodies is movedtransversely of the length of the strand.

Preferably the streaming motion of the bodies is provided by rotatingthe mass of bodies about an axis transverse to the moving strand. Whenthe treatment is a coating treatment, a coating material is supplied tothe mass of bodies, and is passed from the supply and from body to body,and thus carried to and placed on the surface of the moving strand. Flyor lint released from the strand is continually carried away from thetreatment point by the movement of the bodies.

To perform the process of the invention we provide an apparatus having amass of such rounded solid bodies of a durable material, e.g., steelballs, confined in a cage which is rotated, whereby the balls arecontinually moved along paths transverse to the direction of movement ofthe traveling strand, which is passed through the cage in a directiontransverse to its axis of rotation. The cage is provided with atransverse opening, or openings, extending entirely around its peripheryalong a plane, for the admission of the traveling strand to the mass ofballs and for the exit of the strand from the mass of balls. For thispurpose the cage is, in a preferred modification, formed by a group ofaxially aligned rings spaced from each other a distance somewhat lessthan the diameter of the balls and supported from a plurality ofparallel shafts, preferably at least three, at least one of which shaftsis rotated to rotate the rings in their respective planes as a group.The shafts may have a series of spaced ribs thereon for the reception ofthe rings therebetween, corresponding ribs on each of the shafts lyingin a common plane.

In the preferred process and apparatus as applied to coating of fibroustextile strands, the strand is passed first through a mass of ballswhich are moved as described, and which are provided with a liquidcoating material to coat the strand. The strand is then passed through asecondmass of balls which is not supplied with a coating material andwhich, moving as described, serves to remove any excess coating materialfrom the strand, to further level out the distribution of the coating onthe strand, and to lay the fibers. Thereafter, the strand is passedthrough a third mass of balls to finally level the coating and lay andsecure the fuzz, after which the strand may be wound up in anyconventional manner. Preferably the strand is pulled through theapparatus and is wound up at constant speed. The spacing of the massesof balls and the duration of the passage of the strand through thesecond and third masses may be such that the coating material is tackyduring the passage of the strand through the second 'and/ or third massso that as the fuzz is laid it is permanently secured in place to leavethe strand with a permanently smooth surface.

The invention is particularly useful for applying very small amounts ofcoating to fibrous textile strands such as yarns or threads and isadapted to apply such coating very rapidly, reliably and at low cost,with accurate control of the amount of coating applied to the strand,even although the strand may be such as to release large amounts of fuzzand lint. Although it is not confined thereto, the invention isparticularly valuable for the coating of yarns of jute or other bastfibers.

Turning now to the particular preferred practice and preferredembodiment of the invention to be described in detail for purpose ofillustration, and referring to FIG. 1, the strand to be treated, in thisinstance a jute yarn 2, is supplied from a creel at 4 from a package 6.Although only a single end of yarn 2, taken from a single package 6 isshown, it will be understood that a plurality of ends may be drawn fromthe creel 4 and simultaneously treated in the apparatus to be described.

The strand 2 passes through three treating units, passing first throughan applicator indicated generally at 8, and then making three passesthrough a wiper 10 and a second wiper 12, and finally passing at 14 toany suitable conventional Winding apparatus to be wound into packages.

All three treating units 8, 10 and 12 are substantially similar inconstruction and, accordingly, one only will now be described in detail.

Each unit includes an end frame 16 (FIG. 3) and a similar end frame 18.The end frame 16 comprises a circular disc 20 having a central opening22 and a peripheral groove 24. The disc 20 is fixed in a surroundingframe member 26 by means of three set screws 28, 30 and 32 which passradially through the frame member 26, at equally spaced points aroundthe periphery of the disc 20 and have their inner ends extending intogroove 24, as appears to best advantage in FIG. 4. The frame member 26is provided with suitable feet 34, 36 which rest on and are bolted toside frame members of the main frame 38 on which all three units 8, 10and 12 are supported. The end frame 18 is generally similar to the endframe 16, having a frame member 26 with a grooved circular disc 42secured therein by set screws 28', 30' and 32'. The circular disc 42 isprovided with a hole 4|] substantially smaller than the opening 22 incircular disc 20. End frame member 26' likewise is provided with feetbolted to the main frame 38.

End frames 16 and 18 are fixed wth respect to each other in spacedrelation by three tie rods 44, 46 and 48 having reduced ends extendingthrough the discs 20 and 42. The disc 20 is secured to the tie rods bynuts 50, threaded on the reduced ends of the tie rods and holding thedisc against the shoulders at the inner ends of the reduced ends of thetie rods. A cap plate 52 is secured in spaced relation to the outer faceof the end frame 18 to forma housing for the drive mechanism. The capplate 52is provided with holes for the reception of the reduced ends oftie rods 44, 46 and 48 and is held by nuts 54, threaded on the tie rods,against a cylindrical shell 56 surrounding the tie rods, having itsinner surface resting on spacer sleeves 5 8, 59 on the reduced ends ofthe tie rods and bearing against the outer face of the disc 42. l

A mass of rounded bodies in the form of balls 69 is confined in a cagegenerally indicated at 62 in the space between the end frames 16 and 18and the tie rods 44, '46 and 48. For the purpose of supporting androtating the cage 62, three shafts '64, 66 and 68, journaled in the endframes 16 and 18 and extending through the cap plate 52, are provided.The shafts 64,66 and 68 are driven in unison by a main drive shaft 70from any suitable source of power (not shown). The main drive shaft 79is journaled in the hole of the disc 42 and in the cap plate 52. Splinedto the shaft within the'housing formed by the disc 42, cap plate 52 andthe shell 56 is a driver gear 72 which drives pinions 74, 76 and 78splined on the shafts 64, 66 and 68 respectively. The shafts 64, 66 and68 are restrained against endwise movement by suitable collars,indicated at '80 and 82. A similar collar 84 in cooperation with thedisc 85 maintains the main drive shaft 70 in proper endwise position.

For supporting and driving the cage 62, each of the shafts 64, 66 and 68carries a ribbed driving roller 86, 88 and 90 respectively, which may beof nylon. Each driving roller is connected to its shaft for rotationtherewith by a spline, such as the spline 92 securing roller 88 to shaft66 (FIG. 7). The roller 88 is secured against endwise movement on shaft'66 by collars 94, 96 adjustably fastened to the shaft by set screws 98and 99 respectively.

Each driving roller has thereon a series of ribs 100, equally spacedlengthwise of the roller and providing channels 162 between the ribs. Aseries of rings 184 (FIG. 8) is positioned between the driving rollers86, 88 and 90 to be received with a loose fit in the channels 102 andthus supported by and driven by the shafts 64, 66 and 68. In the endmostchannels 102 at one end of the rollers is a solid end plate 106. In theendmost channels at the outer end of the rollers is a plate 108 providedwith a central opening closed by a closure plate 110 which is secured tothe plate 108 by a detachable fastening, such as a series of cap screws1 12 distributed around the margin of the closure plate 110. Removal ofthe closure plate 11!), together with the opening 22, provides access tothe space inside the group of rings 104 for loading and unloading of theballs 60.

The balls 60 are preferably steel balls and may be conventional ballbearings. In the embodiment described the balls are 7 steel ballbearings, although other sizes from much smaller to much larger thanthis may be used. The applicator 8 has the cage 62 filled with balls tothe amount of about 80% of the volume of the cylindrical space definedby and lying inside the rings and between the end plates. The secondunit 10 and the third unit 12 and each filled to the extent of about 40%of this volume.

As the main drive shaft 70, through gear 72 and pinions 74, 76 and 78,rotates the shafts 64, 66 and 68, the cage formed by the rings 104 andthe end plates 106, 108, is rotated by the driving rollers 86, 88 and90, causing the mass of balls to be continually moved so that the ballsroll inside the cage and are moved transversely of the strand 2.

The strand 2 is conducted from a fixed guide 114 on the main frame 38through a space between adjacent rings 104 (or between an end ring 104and one or the other of the end plates 1'06, 108). The strand 2continues through the applicator 8 and over a fixed but adjustable guideroller 116 mounted on brackets 118 on the circular discs 20 and 42 in aposition such as to cause the strand 2 to be immersed in the mass ofballs 60 when the apparatus is in operation. Textile strands run freelythrough the described apparatus, even when they release large amounts oflint and fly, or are markedly non-uni: form, or contain foreignmaterial.

The treating or coating material is supplied to the cage 62. Thepreferred applicator unit 8 is provided with a pan 120 disposed beneaththe cage 62 for supplying the coating material 121 to the cage. Thecoating material could be supplied by dripping or pouring it on the topof the cage, or otherwise. Referring particularly to FIGS. 9 and 10, thepan 120 is provided with an inlet connection 122 into which the coatingmaterial is conducted from a supply tank 124 (FIG. 1) through a flexiblehose 126. Adjacent the opposite end of tank 120 is a cross plate 128which functions as a weir to maintain the coating material at a fixedlevel as it flows from the inlet 122 through the body of the pan andover the upper edge of plate .128 to the outlet connection 138. Theplate 128 slides in vertical guides in the side walls of pan 120 so thatit can be removed and replaced by other plates of different heights toprovide different levels of liquid 121 in the pan. It will be understoodthat instead of removable plates 128, a plate which is adjustable inheight may be provided. The coating material 121 is recirculated by pump132 from the outlet connection 130 to the coating supply tank 124through a line 134, which may be provided with a filter 136.

The rings 104 dip into the coating material 121 and the lower balls arewetted by the coating material. One or more of the drive rollers 86, 88,90 may be arranged to dip into the coating material 121 to furthersupply liquid to the rings 104 and the balls 60. Thus in the particulararrangement of FIG. the drive roller 88 dips into the liquid so that itruns wet and continually supplies liquid to the cage. The roller 90 iswetted by the spillage over the plate 128 and thus carries liquid to thecage. The strand itself can be dipped in the liquid during its passagethrough the apparatus.

The process and apparatus are effective With various degrees ofimmersion of the cage below the surface of the treating liquid 121, fromjust touching the lower periphery of rings 164 to the liquid surface toimmersing the cage for more than one-half its height beneath thesurface. In general, greater immersion of the cage in the liquid resultsin application of greater amounts of coating material.

As the cage 62 rotates, the balls are moved in a stream, transferringthe coating material from ball to ball and from place to place in thecage. Different balls are continually being carried past and intocontact with the traveling strand on and against which they impinge,resulting in a very uniform application of the material to the strandand a very effective removal of lint. The amount of coating on any oneball may be extremely thin and it has been found that the apparatus maybe operated to cause the application of only a very small amount ofcoating material to the strand, while yet producing a very level anduniform distribution of the coating over the entire surface of thestrand.

In our apparatus the orifices through which the strand passes inentering and in leaving the treating zone comprising the mass of ballsare in effect continually moving orifices so that there is noopportunity for the building up of lint to clog the orifices. Any fibersor fuzz detached from the traveling strand in the cage are carried awayfrom the strand by the stream of balls so that they work outwardly andfall or are thrown from the apparatus or are deposited on the drivingrollers 86, 88 and 90 and thus the cage is continually automaticallycleaned of such lint. Lint deposited by the strand on the outside of therings at the side of the cage at which the strand enters will be carriedaround on the outside of the rings to the opposite side of the cagewhere it will be pulled off and thrown clear by the exiting strand. Lintdeposited inside the cage also may be carried to the exit point andflicked out by the exiting strand.

Scraper blades are provided for the drive rollers to remove lint orother foreign material therefrom. Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, theshaft 46 carries, opposite the driving roller 88, a tubular member 138having secured thereto the scraper blade 140 which is provided with aserrated end having a series of teeth 142 interfitting with the ribs 160to lie in the groove 102 with the ends of the teeth tangent to thebottom of the grooves as appears in FIG. 6. Lint collecting on thegrooves or ribs is scraped off by the teeth 138 or the portions of theends of the blade between the teeth and thus continually re moved fromthe cage 62. To maintain the teeth 142 in contact with the bottoms ofthe grooves 102, a coil spring 144 is disposed about the tie rod 46having one of its ends 146' engaging the scraper blade 140 and the otherof its ends 148 maintained in fixed position by a lug 150 on a collar152 adjustably fixed on tie rod 46, as by a set screw. The collar 152 isfixed in such position on the tie rod 46 as to place the spring 144under tension to continually tend to rock the blade 141 about the axisof the tie rod in the direction to engage the teeth 142 with the bottomsof the grooves 102.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus for containing and rotatingthe balls may take many different specific forms. One such modified formof ball retaining cage is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In this modificationthe cage consists of a number of similar cage elements each comprising aring 154 supported from a hub 156 by means of a thin Web 158. The hubs156 are carried on a shaft 160 mounted on a suitable bearing 162supported on the main frame 38. The end cage elements may be the same asthe other cage elements or they may have their webs connected to oneside of the ring 154 and the hub 156 as shown in FIG. 11. The hubs areslightly longer in the axial direction than the rings 154 so that whenthe hubs are pulled together on shaft into engagement with each other,by tightening of nut 164, spaces between the rings are provided for theentry and exit of the strand 2 to be treated. The webs, rings and hubsof adjoining cage members form pockets for the retention of masses ofballs 60. This modified cage is positioned so that its lower portionextends into the pan 129 for the treating liquid 121, the level of whichis controlled, as before, by positioning of a suitable cross-plate 128in the guideways on the side of the pan 120.

'In the operation of the apparatus, the strand 2 is passed from thepackage 6 through the guide 114, through the applicator 8, over theguide roller 116, about a guide roller 166 and into the first wiper unit10. From the roller 166 the strand 2 moves upwardly through a slotbetween adjacent rings 104 of the first wiper unit 10, through the massof balls 60, out through a slot between the rings and upwardly to thesecond wiper unit 12. A heater unit 168 is provided between wiper units10 and 12 having electrical resistance heating coils 170 disposed onopposite sides of the pathway of the strand 2. The strand passes throughthe second Wiper unit 12 in the same manner as it passed through thefirst wiper unit 10 and is led thence about a guide roller 172 and aguide roller 174- for a second pass through both wiper units and thenceto the guide roller 176 from which it is led ofi at 14 to any suitablewinding apparatus.

The wiper units 10 and 12 are not supplied with liquid. The balls arerolled inside the cage and moved transversely of the strand about anaxis transverse to the strand to repeatedly contact the strand as in theapplicator unit 3. This operation causes the balls to be wet With thecoating material picked up from the strand, which coating material isdistributed from ball to ball. Any excess works out to the drive rollers86, 88, 90 and is removed by the scraper blade teeth 142. Lint releasedfrom the strand is continuously and effectively removed from theapparatus as in the applicator 8. This treatment in the wiper unitsserves further to level out and render uniform the coating on the strand2. At the same time the fuzz on the strand is laid down against itssurface, into the coating.

As the strand passes upwardly from the first to the second wiper units,the coating material thereon is dried at least partially in the firstpass and completely by the time the strand has completed the third passthrough the second wiper unit.

Desirably the speed of the strand and the temperature of the heater 168are so adjusted that upon entry of the strand into a wiper unit on atleast one of the passes the coating is in a tacky state such that thefuzz may still be secured to it but will not again rise from it afterthe strand has left the unit.

The applicator and wiper units need not be disposed in the particularspatial arrangement shown in FIG. 1. For example, they may withadvantage be arranged along a straight line, vertically or horizontally.Thus in the modification of FIG. 13 the applicator 8, the first wiper 10and the second wiper 12 are arranged along a horizontal line, the strand2 passing along a generally straight line from the supply creel throughthe units in succession, rcpassing twice through the wiper units andthen to the winding equipment. A driven, wire-bristle brush is arrangedto run in contact with the outer faces of the rings of the cage of thesecond wiper unit 12 to further aid in removal of lint and fly. It willbe understood that such a brush 180 may be included in any of the units6, 10 or 12, of the modifications of FIGS. 1-9, or of 10-12, or of FIG.13. A heating unit 178 is located between units 16 and 12, functioningin the same manner as the heater 170.

' It will 'be understood that a heater unit may, if de-' sired, belocated between the applicator and the first wip-er unit, either with orwithout the use of a heater unit between the first and second wiperunits, or the heater may be omitted entirely if its function is notneeded.

The percentage of the volume of the cage filled with balls, in the cagesof the applicator and wipers, may vary over wide limits. The cage mustnot be so full that the balls cannot move with respect to each other andthe strand. In general, larger amounts of balls give'better coatingresults and give a smoother and harder finish to the strand, butincrease the tension in the strand as it is pulled through the cage.

The halls in a single cage need not all be of the same size.

The cage may be rotated at various speeds, over a wide range, theconsiderations being to maintain the strand Within the mass of balls andto avoid breaking the strands. Speeds from less than /2 r.p.m. to inexcess of r.p.m. have been eifectively used with various weight jutefiber strands. In general, the speed of rotation of the cage will begreater with greater yarn speed and with greater yarn diameter. Thespeeds of the cages of the applicator, first wiper and second wiper neednot be the same, and it is generally preferable to run the wiper unitssomewhat slower than the applicator unit. The wiper units generally needbe run no faster than is required to keep the unit free from lint.

Although three units, 8, 10 and 12, are employed in the particularpreferred modification disclosed for purposes of illustration, it willbe understood that a greater orlesser number may be used.

We have found that yarns may be processed at high speed through theapparatus described. Speeds of over 400 yards per minute have been foundpractical with juite yarns. The invention is not limited to anyparticular speed of travel of the yarn, speed of rotation of the cage,direction of rotation of the cage, ball content of the cage, size of theballs or extent of immersion of the cage.

The process has been found to be very useful and eflective in providinga coated jute fiber strand wherein the coating is at the surface of thestrand. By the use of such coatings the tensile strength of the strandmay at low cost be greatly increased, and the hair or fuzz, normally anotably objectionable feature of jute yarns, can be tightly laid toprovide a smooth, hair-free surface, with the use of only a very smallamount of coating material and at a very low cost.

The method and apparatus of the invention are useful for a great varietyof purposes, for coating uniform as well as non-uniform strands. Forexample, they may be used for treatment of such strands with a liquidfor bleaching, pigmenting or dyeing, or other chemical treatment, or forthe purpose of applying a finish, for example, a mildewproofing ormold-resistant finish, or for applying a thermoplastic sheath, or asuperficial layer serving the purpose of preventing migration of oil orother liquid from the strand, or they may be used for oiling the strand.The viscosity of the materials which the process and apparatus willapply ranges from thinly fluid to highly viscous. The

applied materials may be hot melts, solvent systems, aqueous or otherliquid dispersions, or dry powders. Thermosetting materials may beapplied in the applicator 8 and set in the Wipers 10 or 12. The processand apparatus may be usedto treat strands without applying any materialthereto, to surface treat a strand to condense or smooth or otherwiseaifect the condition of its surface.

An illustrative example of a coating material is the following:

14 parts by weight of polyvinyl alcohol, consisting of the 98%hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate which is available commercially as PVA 6098supplied by The Borden Company.

86 parts by weight of water.

A 16-p-ound juteyarn consisting of District Tossa fiber and having atwist of 3.3 turns per inch was coated with the coating materialdescribed in the preceding paragraph on the apparatus of FIGS. 1-10 ofthe drawing at a strand speed of 400 yards per minute, with theapplicator cage 8 turning at 12 r.p.m. and each of the wiper cagesturning at 3 r.p.m. The cage of the applicator 8 was immersed for aboutAs its diameter in the coating liquid. The finished yarn wassubstantially free from surface fuzz and its tensile strength wasincreased more than 20%; Untwisting of a sample of the coated yarn andexamination of its fibers showed that the coating material was locatedentirely at the surface, with the inner fibers being free of coating.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for treating a traveling strand which comprises a mass ofrounded bodies, a rotatable cage for confining said bodies within whichthe bodies are movable, said cage having an opening therethrough for thepassage of the strand, said opening extending continuously around aperiphery of the cage along a plane, means for rotating the cage aboutan axis passing through the cage and disposed normal to said plane, andguide means for leading a traveling strand into said cage.

2. Apparatus for treating a traveling strand which comprises a mass ofballs, a rotatable cage for confining said balls within which the ballsare movable, said cage having an opening therethrough for the passage ofthe strand, said opening extending continuously around a periphery ofthe cage along a plane, means for rotating the cage about an axispassing through the cage and disposed normal to said plane, and guidemeans for leading a traveling strand into said cage.

3. Apparatus for coating a traveling strand which com prises a mass ofrounded bodies, a cage for confining said bodies in which the bodies aremovable, said cage having an opening therethrough for the passage of thestrand, said opening extending continuously around a periphery of thecage along a plane, means for rotating the cage about an axis passingthrough the cage and disposed normal to said plane, means for supplyinga coating material to said bodies, and guide means for leading atraveling strand into said cage.

4. Apparatus for coating a traveling strand which comprises a mas ofsubstantially equal-sized balls, a cage for confining said balls inwhich the balls are movable, said cage having an opening therethroughfor the passage of the strand, said opening extending continuouslyaround a periphery of the cage along a plane, means for rotating thecage about an axis passing through the cage and disposed normal to saidplane, means for supplying a coating material to said balls, and guidemeans for leading a traveling strand into said cage.

5. An apparatus for treating a traveling strand comprising a pluralityof rotatable shafts disposed in spaced parallel relation, a plurality ofaxially spaced rings and a pair of plates disposed between and supportedby the shafts and each lying generally in a plane normal to the shafts,said rings lying between said plates, a plurality of rounded bodies eachlarger than the space between adjacent rings disposed in the spaceinside said rings, and means for driving at least one of said shafts torotate said rings in their respective planes.

6. An apparatus for treating a traveling strand'cornprising a pluralityof rotatable shafts disposed in spaced parallel relation, a plurality ofaxially spaced rings and a pair of plates disposed between and supportedby the shafts and each lying generally in a plane normal to the shafts,said rings lying between said plates, a mass of balls each of a sizelarger than the space between adjacent rings disposed in the spaceinside said rings, means for driving at least one of said shafts torotate said rings in their respective planes and thereby move the balls,and means for moving the strand through said mass of balls.

7. An apparatus for treating a traveling strand com prising a pluralityof rotatable shafts in spaced parallel relation, each shaft having aplurality of substantially equally spaced circumferential ribs connectedthereto and rotatable therewith, corresponding ribs on all of the shaftslying in a common plane normal to the shafts, a plurality of axiallyspaced rings and a pair of plates disposed between and supported by theshafts and each lying generally in a plane normal to the shafts andbetween adjacent ribs on each shaft, said rings lying between saidplates, a plurality of balls disposed in the space inside said rings,and means for driving at least one of said shafts to rotate said ringsin their respective planes.

8. An apparatus for coating a traveling strand comprising spaced framemembers, at least three rotatable shafts supported on and extendingbetween said frame members in spaced parallel relation, means fordriving said shafts at the same speed, each shaft having a plurality ofsubstantially equally spaced circumferential ribs connected thereto androtatable therewith, corresponding ribs on all of the shafts lying in acommon plane normal to the shafts, a plurality of axially spaced ringsand a pair of plates disposed between and supported by the shafts andeach lying generally in a plane normal to the shafts and betweenadjacent ribs on each shaft, said rings lying between said plates, and amass of rounded bodies each larger than the space between adjacent ringsconfined inside aid rings by means supported on said shafts, means formoving a strand to be coated through said mass of bodies, and means forsupplying a coating material to said bodies.

9. An apparatus for coating a traveling strand comprising spaced framemembers, tie rods connecting said frame members and holding them inspaced relationship, at least three rotatable shafts supported on andextending between said frame members in spaced parallel relation, meansfor driving said shafts at the same speed, each shaft having a pluralityof substantially equally spaced circumferential ribs connected theretoand rotatable therewith, corresponding ribs on all of the shafts lyingin a common plane normal to the shafts, a plurality of axially spacedrings disposed between and supported by the shafts and each lyinggenerally in a plane normal to the shafts and between adjacent ribs oneach shaft, a circular plate at each end of the group of rings, eachplate being disposed between and supported by said shafts and lyinggenerally in a plane normal to the shafts and between adjacent ribs oneach shaft, a mass of steel balls of substantially the same diameter,greater than the space between adjacent rings, confined in the spaceinside said rings and between said plates, the volume of said mass beingless than the volume of the said space, means for moving the strandlengthwise through said mass of balls, and means for supplying a coatingmaterial to said balls.

10. The method of surface treating a strand which comprises moving thestrand in the direction of its length through and in contact withindividual members of a mass of rounded bodies, and continuouslyrotating said mass about an axis transverse to the moving strand.

11. The method of applying a coating material to a textile strand whichcomprises moving the strand in the direction of its length through andin contact with individual members of a mass of balls coated with thecoating material, and continuously rotating said mass about an axistransverse to the moving strand.

12. The method of treating the surface of a textile strand whichcomprises continuously moving the strand in the direction of its lengththrough and in contact with individual members of a mass of balls andcontinuously rotating said mass about an axis transverse to the strand.

13. The method of applying a coating material to and laying the fuzz ona textile strand which comprises continuously moving the strand in thedirection of its length through and in contact with individual membersof a mass of balls coated with the coating material while continuouslyrotating said mass about an axis transverse r If to the strand,supplying coating material to said mass of balls, and thereafter movingthe strand in the direction of its length through a second mass of ballswhile rotating said second mass about an axis transverse to the strand.

14. The method of applying a liquid coating material to a textile strandwhich comprises continuously moving the strand in the direction of itslength through and in contact with individual members of a mass of ballssupported on each other and by a surrounding cage in which the mass ofballs is movable, continuously supplying coating material to the mass ofballs at a fixed position and continuously rotating the cage to move theballs in a path which intersects and crosses the strand, to transfercoating material from the supply, from ball to ball and to the movingstrand.

15. The method of applying a liquid coating material to and laying thefuzz on a textile strand which comprises continuously moving the strandin the direction of its length through and in contact with individualmembers of a mass of balls supported on each other and by a surroundingcage in which the mass of balls is movable, continuously supplyingcoating material to the mass of balls at a fixed position, continuouslyrotating the cage to move the balls in a path which intersects andcrosses the strand, to transfer coating material from the supply, fromball to ball and to the moving strand, and thereafter moving the strandcontinuously through a second mass of balls while continuously movingthe balls of the second mass transversely of the moving strand.

16. The method of treating the surface of a strand which comprisescontinuously moving the strand in the direction of its length throughand in contact with individual members of a mass of rounded bodiessupported on each other and by a surrounding cage in which the mass ofbodies is movable, and continuously rotating the cage about an axistransverse to the strand to move the bodies transversely of the strand.

17. The method of applying a liquid coating material to and laying thefuzz on a textile strand Which comprises continuously moving the strandin the direction of its length through and in contact with individualmembers of a mass of balls supported on each other and by a surroundingcage in which the mass of balls is free to move, continuously supplyingcoating material to the mass of balls at a fixed position, continuouslyrotaitng the cage about an axis transverse to the strand to move theballs transversely of the strand, to transfer coating material from thesupply, from ball to ball and to the moving strand, and thereaftermoving the strand continuously through a second mass of balls whilecontinuously moving the balls of said second mass of balls about an axistransverse to the moving strand.

18. The method of surface treating a strand which comprises moving thestrand in the direction of its length through and in contact withindividual members of a mass of rounded bodies, and continuously movingsaid rounded bodies generally in planes parallel to the strand.

19. The method of coating a textile strand which comprises moving thestrand in the direction of its length through and in contact withindividual members of a mass of rounded bodies coated with the coatingmaterial, and continuously moving said rounded bodies generally inplanes parallel to the strand.

20. The method of surface treating a strand which comprises moving thestrand in the direction of its length through and in contact withindividual members of a mass of rounded bodies supported on each otherand by a surrounding cage in which the mass of bodies is movable, andcontinuously rotating the cage about an axis transverse to the movingstrand.

21. The method of coating a textile strand which comprises moving thestrand in the direction of its length through and in contact withindividual members of a mass of balls coated with the coating materialand sup- 1 1 12 ported on each other and by a surrounding cage in which2,415,683 F0109 -Feb. 11, 1947 the mass of balls is movable, andcontinuously rotating 2,477,336 Jennings July 26, 1949 the cage about anaxis transverse to the moving strand." 2,693,429 Radtke et a1 19542,703,550 Bell Mar. 8, 1955 References Cited in the file of this patent5 ,330 Whit head Sept. 11, 1956 V UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS752,458 Lehman F b. 16, 1904 290,252 Great Britain Aug. 16, 19281,031,616 Benrath et a1. July 2, 1912 136,886 Switzerland Dec. 15, 19291,767,209 Gladding June 24, 1930 10 418,024 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1934

21. THE METHOD OF COATING A TEXTILE STRAND WHICH COM-PRISES MOVING THESTRAND IN THE DIRECTION OF ITS LENGTHASSTHROUGH AND IN CONTACT WITHINDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF A MASS OF BALLS COATED WITH THE COATING MATERIALAND SUPPORTED ON EACH OTHER AND BY A SURROUNDING CAGE IN WHICH THE MASSOF BALLS IS MOVABLE, AND CONTINUOUSLY ROTATINGG THE CAGE ABOUT AN AXISTRANSVERSE TO THE MOVING STRAND